London and Paris Antiquing

Planning
a trip to Europe anytime soon? If so, you can have lots of fun prowling
for bargains at street markets and fairs. You just might come home with
an irreplaceable find.

The French have three general categories for the type of goods shown
at their various fairs and markets. A marche aux puces is a flea market.
A foire a la brocante features bric a brac and a salon des antiquaires
has the highest quality antiques. As importers of antiques from England,
Belgium and France, we have run the gamut of these markets always searching
for treasures. As interior designers, we have been known to pass up
the safe, predictable piece and buy instead the quirky , off-beat item
because we knew exactly how it could be used in an interior as a focal
point or touch of whimsy.

Buying trips require one to be extremely focused. There is a lot of
ground to cover in a relatively short period . Get a good night’s
rest, take a flashlight and wear comfortable shoes.

For shoppers who have only a brief time in the following cities, these
are the “don’t miss” places:

LONDON

Camden Passage is located in the North London Borough
of Islington and offers both a flea market and permanent shops. The
market opens about 7 a.m. every Wednesday . and runs from 9 a.m.. til
2 p.m on Saturday. Although the booth owners may change, the shops have
less turnover. One long time business, Keith Skeel, has a reputation
for high quality, unique merchandise. By subway take the Northern Line
to Angel

Bermondsey Market: By 4 a.m. each Friday, booth set-up
begins. BE THERE EARLY By 10:00 all the good stuff is gone. A large
flea market with inside and outside booths, Bermondsey has some bric-a-brac
but also very interesting accessories. Many dealers buy here. Oftentimes,
reproductions pass for the real thing, so novices should beware. Located
at Bermondsey St and Long Lane, take the Underground's Northern Line
to the London Bridge or Borough stops.

Portobello Road: One of the better known markets, this
Saturday event offers merchandise that is a step up from Bermondsey.
It is a great source for pillows made from antique fragments, old trims,
and lap boxes. Vendors start lining the street in front of the shops
at 5:30 a.m. and by 7:30 the street is bustling. Many dealers begin
closing at 3:00 p.m..

Many of London’s finest antique shops are located on Fulham Road,
New Bond Street and Pimlico Road. It is worth the trip to see some of
the city’s finest antiques.

Consider staying at 11 Cadogan Gardens, a small hotel not far from the
Victoria and Albert Museum in Chelsea.

PARIS

If in Paris, even briefly, the one "must see" area for antiques
is the Paris Flea Market with about 1600 dealers. It’s
open Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 9:30- 6:00, take the subway to
Porte de Clignancourt. From there, it is a short walk. Hurry past the
tables of socks and t-shirts and head to the areas marked Paul Bert,
Serpette, Vernaison and Biron. There you will find the "finds"
of the show in both furniture, art and accessories. If you don't speak
French, be sure to take a pad and pencil. It’s amazing how you
can negotiate on paper.

A charming place to stay, or at least visit, is the hotel L'Hotel at
13 rue des Beaux-Arts. Oscar Wilde was a resident in his later years.
On each floor the rooms are located off a circular hallway which is
open to the lobby below. The halls have fabric covered, upholstered
and button tufted walls and the whole building is truly unique.

Of course there are numerous fairs in these cities and the country fairs
abound, the ones mentioned above are the largest and most well known.
The vetted antique shows are an educational resource if only to look
and ask questions. If you are planning a trip, do your homework and
find what is offered during your stay. Then put on those comfortable
shoes and head out. Bon chance!